Personality Development

Swapnil Yadav

Swapnil Yadav Secured AIR 591 in IAS (IPS)
Former student of CMS Kanpur Road Campus

Swapnil’s long craving was always to do something unique that would make a difference in the world. Today, with his selection in the Indian Police Service, he has set out to do just that.

He joined CMS Kanpur Road in Class V in 1995. In 2004, he passed the ICSE (Class X) Examination with flying colours. Belonging to a family where human values and studies are given prime importance, Swapnil never had to look anywhere else for inspiration. His mother, Principal in Navyug Inter College made the home a place of peace, harmony and love while his father, retired manager in Royal Enfield Motors, gave him the necessary support, encouragement and guidance in making the right decisions in life. Swapnil did his engineering from Uttar Pradesh Technical University (MGM College, NOIDA) in 2010 and MBA in Marketing (Major) and Media Planning (Minor) from Jaypee Business School, Noida.

He worked for Buddh International Circuit (Formula 1 race), Hockey India League and Yamuna Expressway at various positions. Later he cleared the Intelligence Bureau exam. Finally, he qualified the Civil Service exam of 2017 with AIR 591.

CMS has influenced Swapnil in more ways than one. It has given him the imagination to think big. The infra-structure available at CMS, the exposure and the education allowed him to visualize a successful, meaningful and fulfilling life.

When he was in Class VIII at CMS, the renowned scientist and later President of India Dr APJ Kalam visited the school and inspired the students saying that it was a crime to have a low aim. Today, with the same spirit, he advises the younger crop of students saying, “All we have is one life. But if we live it well, once is just enough. Pursue your dream, let it make you mad. Do justice with it. Make your life purposeful, let it be dedicated to nation, society and humanity at large. Do good and good will come to you.” The Indian Police Services have certainly found a new and highly talented officer in Swapnil. We wish him all the best!

Dr Avlokita Ashok

Dr Avlokita Ashok
Secured AIR 915 in IAS (IRS)
Former student of CMS Mahanagar Campus

Dr Avlokita Ashok is a shining example of brilliance and consistent hard work leading to success. Student of CMS Mahanagar, she is an inspiration for all her juniors and a gem of pride for her Principal and teachers. Both parents of Dr Avlokita are in government service.

Her father, Mr B.P. Ashok, is a police officer, while her mother is in the state administrative services (PCS). The discipline and hard work of her parents has found its way into her character as well and trained her mind to accept all kinds of responsibilities with a smiling face. Her husband, Dr Yogendra Sagar is an IAS officer.

Avlokita joined CMS Mahanagar Campus in Kindergarten in 1994. She remembers her teachers, Nidhi Ma’am and Arti Ma’am, with great fondness. She believes in hard work, perseverance and never quitting attitude, values that she learnt at CMS. She says with confidence, “I can easily sit for studies for nearly 10-12 hours and this habit, I developed in CMS” She praises the CMS practice of teachers visiting the homes of students, as it makes every child feel special.

While still in Class XII, she qualified in the medical entrance examination and went on to complete her MBBS from Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi. After this, she appeared for the IAS Exams and was selected in IRS. In her own words, “…my biggest achievement is to crack the toughest exam of India (UPSC) after the very first year of my marriage.”

Dr Avlokita is also a kathak dancer and her first performance on stage was at the age of five in CMS. She says happily, “It gave me the confidence to be myself on stage which became my biggest attribute in the future.” At present, she is undergoing training for the IRS. Her advice to the younger students is, “Never quit, and believe in yourself.”

The CMS Family wishes Avlokita all the best for a happy future with many more accolades and achievements to come.

Ms Richa Singh Chitranshi

Ms Richa Singh Chitranshi
ndia Head of Google Internationalization
Ex-student of CMS Anand Nagar and Station Road Campuses (ISC 1998)

Richa Singh Chitranshi did her entire schooling from CMS. She did her studies till Class VIII from CMS Anand Nagar Branch and then IX-XII from CMS Station Road and passed her ISC in 1998. Later on, she completed her Bachelors in Architecture from Govt. College of Architecture, Lucknow in 2004.

She cleared GATE and topped in her stream in Uttar Pradesh and joined IIT Roorkee to do her Masters in Planning. After a brief stint in RMS, Noida, she went on to join Google R&D Bangalore office. She is the India Head of Google Internationalization and is now leading the Indian languages initiatives.

Richa Singh Chitranshi did her entire schooling from CMS. She did her studies till Class VIII from CMS Anand Nagar Branch and then IX-XII from CMS Station Road and passed her ISC in 1998. Later on, she completed her Bachelors in Architecture from Govt. College of Architecture, Lucknow in 2004. She cleared GATE and topped in her stream in Uttar Pradesh and joined IIT Roorkee to do her Masters in Planning. After a brief stint in RMS, Noida, she went on to join Google R&D Bangalore office. She is the India Head of Google Internationalization and is now leading the Indian languages initiatives.

She gives the entire credit of her success to the balanced study pattern, work 'hard and smart', and the teach for the future methodology followed by the school.

Ms Tanya Chaitanya

Ms Tanya Chaitanya
Editor and Chief Community Officer, Femina magazine
Ex-student CMS Station Road Campus (ISC 1996)

Tanya Chaitanya studied at CMS Station Road Campus and passed out in 1996 with flying colours in the ISC Board Exams. She is a born writer, fond of letters since the age of three. Today, she serves as the Editor and Chief Community Officer at Femina, Worldwide Media Private Limited since 2007. As an editor, Tanya Chaitanya has given India’s largest selling women’s magazine—Femina—a contemporary, fresh and modern feel.

An alumna of IIM-Calcutta, Tanya started her career in year 2000 as a producer of BBC Worldwide Media and soon moved to Bombay Times as Chief Copy Editor in the year 2003. After a 3-year stint at Bombay Times, she joined the India Today Group as the associate editor of Cosmopolitan Magazine in 2006.

Mr Roshan Gandhi
Director of Strategy, CMS

Taking Personal Responsibility For Your Own Safety

I was shocked this month when I heard that a close colleague of mine had been involved in a major car accident while travelling inter-city. Another car came down the highway in the wrong direction, and a head-on collision occurred. The car was written off, but thankfully my colleague emerged almost totally unscathed. It turned out that he was saved from a potentially tragic incident for one reason only: he was wearing his seat belt.

I have come across similar stories from others who have been saved as a result of wearing their seat belts – as well as, regrettably, far more harrowing stories from the friends and families of those who were not wearing their seat belts. If this kind of anecdotal evidence is insufficiently persuasive, the objective evidence on the matter is abundantlyclear: in India, per 100,000 motor vehicles there are 130.1 road fatalities; in the UK there are only 5, i.e. only 3.8% of the Indian figure. While much of the difference can be attributed to the greater following of road traffic rules (as a result of more rigorous driver training and testing and more effective law enforcement), a large factor in this difference is also a consequence of people in other countries taking more personal responsibility to secure their own road safety, such as wearing seat belts on every car journey.

The conclusion is obvious: one should simply remember to wear one’s seat belt when sitting in a car. The fact that so many people continue not to do so baffles me, since the potential benefits are so great and the costs are zero, and they cause no discomfort. Similarly, the potential life-saving impact of a crash helmet ought to be enough to make anyone think twice before setting out on a motorcycle or scooter without adequate head protection.

My message to students this month is quite simple: please take basic responsibility for your own safety by remembering to wear your seat belt or helmet. The costs are virtually zero; the benefits could be infinite.

Study abroad session in process

The Career Counselling Cell of CMS organised a Study Abroad Session for students of Classes XII from all CMS campuses on Wednesday, 4 July 2018 at CMS Gomti Nagar Campus I Auditorium. Prof Geeta Gandhi Kingdon, President, CMS; Mr Roshan Gandhi, Director of Strategy, CMS; Mrs Abha Anant, Principal, Gomti Nagar Campus I and Mr Gaurav Chicker, Director, Manya Abroad addressed the students about the various options available to them to pursue their undergraduate courses in universities abroad.

Sakshi Pradyumn with the IAYP Award

In recognition of Sakshi's commendable performance as a part of the IAYP (International Award for Young People) programme, he was given the GOLD Award on 10th July 2018 by honourable Sir Dominic Asquith British High Commissioner to the Republic Of India at the Annual Gold Award ceremony held at the Indian International Centre Max Mueller Bhawan. He fulfilled the requisites for getting the coveted gold award. He has a balanced and an integrated personality and is self-motivated towards social service and philanthropy. He was an active participant in all IAYP activities.

The victorious football team of CMS Aliganj Campus I

It was a win-win situation for CMS Aliganj footballers as they sailed past their opponents and proved their supremacy for the fifth year consecutively at the ASISC Zonal Football Tournament by defeating all the top schools of the city in Zone A. The bigger reason to celebrate was that they won in both the categories-under 17 and under 19. Full marks to their wonderful coach and their teamwork!